Electric heater for car sand-boxes



J. M. CHRISTOPHER.

ELECTRIC HEATER FOR GAR SAND BOXES.

(No Model.)

No. 520,253. Patented May 22, 1894.

r O m m n I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. CHRISTOPHER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ELECTRIC HEATER FOR CAR SAND-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,253, dated May 22, 1894.

Application filed June 13, 1 8 9S To all whom it may concern.-

I 3e it known that 1, JOHN M. CHRISTOPHER, acitlzen of the United States, residing at Baltlmore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Sand-Boxes of Electric Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My nvention relates to an improvement in electric heaters for sand-boxes of cars, and is partlcularly applicable to electric street-cars, since the current to operate the heater may be had by simply tapping the motor-circuit at some convenient point, or if the car be of the storage battery system, the current may be obtained directly from the battery.

The object of my invention is to provide a heater that maybe readily attached to a sandbox and as readily removed therefrom, as the use of the heater is not required at all times.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a diagrammatrc or outline elevation showing a vertical, longitudinal section of an electric car of the trolley system with the improved heater applied to the sand-distributing box thereof 5 a valve; and ,means for operating the valve to release the sand from the box. Fig.2, is a detail view of the sand-box and showing the heater as applied thereto, a portion of the box or casing of the heater being broken away to expose the resistance wires. Fig. 3, is a top view of a horizontal section on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a vertical section of a modification of the heater as applied to the spout or nozzle of the sand box. Fig. 5, 1s a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. 7

Referring to the drawings the letter, A,indicates the car, having the trolley, a.

13, indicates the main line wire with which the trolley contacts. A conductor, 0, leads as usual from the trolley, through the fusebox, D, to the motor on the car-truck.

In the present instance the current which is passed through the heater, 1-1, is obtained by tapping the motor circuit at the cut-out, E. From said cut-out the conductor F, conveys the current to the heater on or surrounding the sand box, G.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown the heater in the form of the inverted sector of the frustum of a hollow cone, being semi-circular in cross-section to fit partly around the outside of the sand-box, G, having ears, 0, and set- Serial No. 477,434- (No model.)

screws, 0, passing through the cars into the casing of the sand-box, for removably securing the heater thereto. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the heater in the form of the frustum of a hollow cone, but this form like that of the other figures is secured to the exterior and incloses or partly incloses the sand-box. It is obvious that the heater, which is designed tokeep the sand dry so it will fiow freely and also to prevent its freezing in cold weather, would not be necessary at all times, hence it is made detachable as above described. The resistance wires, h, in the heater become heated by the passage of the electric current through them and imparttheir heat to a packing, S, of asbestus or other non -combustible material which surrounds said wires inside the casing of the heater, and which in turn imparts the heat to the box and the sand in the box. A vertical depressible foot-rod, z',is shown passing through the platform of the car; it connects with one end of la lever, .I, centrally pivoted to a lug on the under side of the said platform; the other end of the said lever is pivoted to a link, 7r, which in turn is jointed to the operating lever, l, of the valve, or, in the nozzle, n, of the sand-box, forregulating the flow of sand therefrom. 7

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modified form of the heater; in this instance it comprises a hollow cylindrical casing, H, within which the resistance wires are looped back and forth in the usual way. In this modified form the cylindric casing is slipped over the outlet pipe, 72., and is secured to the sand box in any suitable way, as by means of set-screws, 0, passed through the brackets, 19, secured to the casing of the heater. the circuit is grounded by the wire, r, passing to the car-wheel, I, or in any other preferred manner. A cut-out, J, is employed to control the flow of current through the heater. I have thus combined a sand-box, a heater device adapted to dry the damp sand in the same, and circuit wires to supply the electricity to the heater.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with the electricallypropelled car provided with a sand-distributing box, of an electric heater applied to the exterior of and inclosing or partly inclosing From the sand box.

or partly surrounds the said sand-box; means :5 for attaching said heater-casing to the sandbox and readily removing the same; refliatr ance wires within the said heater-casing; and an electrical connection between the resiltance wires and the car-motor circuit, as not 89 forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN M. CHRISTOPHER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. MANN, J r., ALVAN MAOAULEY. 

